Cambridge shoe attacker charged

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:42:08 GMT      |     PressTV

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the University of Cambridge

A protester who threw a shoe at the Chinese prime minister at Britain's Cambridge University has been charged, according to British police.

"Following an incident in the auditorium during the premier's speech earlier today, a man has been charged with a public order offence," a police spokeswoman said Monday.

"The 27-year-old man has been charged with section four of the Public Order Act and will appear at Cambridge magistrate's court on Tuesday, February 10."

"This dictator here, how can you listen to the lies he's telling? You are not challenging him," shouted the protester before his shoe attack.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao continued his address after the shoe landed within a meter from him. "We come in peace. This is not going to obstruct China-UK friendships. History shows harmony will not be obstructed by any force," said Wen.

Cambridge police said the man, who appeared to have a non-English, European accent, surrendered peacefully. A spokeswoman confirmed his age but gave no information on his nationality.

The incident echoed the protest by Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi against then-US president Bush on December 14, which won him global fame.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Alison Richard told AFP, "I deeply regret that a single member of the audience this afternoon failed to show the respect for our speaker that is customary at Cambridge."

"This university is a place for considered argument and debate, not for shoe-throwing," he added.